Ateneo, La Salle catch UST at helm

Ateneo fought back from a tough first set loss and overcame a shaky second set stint as it fashioned out a hard-earned 23-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-22 victory over a slumping San Sebastian side yesterday at the close of the first round of the semifinals of the 2005 Shakey’s V-League first conference at the Rizal Coliseum.

Amelia Guanco and Cecille Tabuena provided some clutch hits as the two combined for 32 points, including 27 on attacks, to rally the Lady Eagles to their second win in three games to stay in the hunt for the crown in this tournament sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza.

But the win didn’t come easy.

La Salle made it a three-way tie for first as it stopped University of Santo Tomas, 25-18, 25-19, 29-27, in the second game.

Michelle Carolino came through with 16 points while Manilla Santos and Desiree Hernandez tossed in 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Lady Archers, who withstood the Tigers’ fightback in the third set to prevail in 1:16 and snap the erstwhile unbeaten leaders’ win run in the event backed by Accel, Mikasa, Dunkin’ Donuts, IBC-13 and Jemah Television.

With 2-1 (win-loss) slates apiece, Ateneo, La Salle and UST are expected to slug it out in the final stretch of the semis beginning with the Ateneo-UST duel tomorrow. La Salle takes on winless but dangerous San Sebastian in the other contest.

Meanwhile, the La Salle-UST match will be telecast at 7 tonight on IBC-13, according to the organizing Sports Vision Management Group, Inc.

After losing the first set, the Lady Eagles actually came close to dropping the second but pulled through just the same when Guanco and Tabuena scored a pair of kills to shatter a 23-all deadlock, take the set and force a 1-all tie.